When I tell the people that there was a mini zoo, opposite the bank today, they don't believe me. Who else recollects those gages with the monkey's and birds in them. Next to the Youth Club, where the pre-primary is today?
???
Huh, when?
Before 1976..... I remember the monkey's especially.....
8)
Hi there Michael ,
yes I remember the park with the cages in the middle with birds etc in them , call it a zoo ? yes to us it was our mini zoo .... Are you Jock alexanders son ?? If so give him my best regards , I will never forget the good times and the warm openness of Jock and Vi and their unconditional friendship , and yes our town was a special place to grow up in .. keep on remembering and sharing .
Sandy
Hi Sandy, yes I am indeed the eldest Son of Jock & Vi (deceased) Alexander.... My father got it right to be the first person to retire in Oranjemund without having to open a business, he bought a Parkhome from one of the Contrator company's down at "Pigsville" and is now retired here....
I phoned him to tell him about you, and he remembers you and your brothers very well.... In fact Gus was my Foreman at PTF plant when I was an Appie back here in the late 80's......
I'm trying to drag him into the world of the internet.... but whisky has more favour with him..... He is looking for a photo at the moment where my mom played the accordian at some plaque unveiling for one of your late parents.... good scots.... my dad muttered on the phone earlier today..... :D
Hi Michael ,
yes your Mom with the Piano Accordion or squashbox as she fondly used to call it .. I used to work in sportsmans arms and suddenly her familiar voice with its beautiful accent and lilt would burst into song , and many would then join in .. spontaneous .. in her moment ... and thats what made the difference ... I felt heartsore when I read the obit in the argus .. Once again lets all keep on remembering and sharing . Sandy
Yes, I remember the 'zoo' - it was next to the Playschool and we were allowed into it at 'break time'. I seem to remember there being a porcupine in it as well.
The Zoo had many animals but i also seem to remember the monkeys with there blue ...... !!
The mounts for the cage are still there today....
I remember how the whole town was rep en roer, when one of those monkey's escaped, a whole gang of people moving from tree to tree as the monkey swung along!
;D
Bet you, one of my brothers were right in front with the monkeys..........
Whilst walking past the pre-primary the other day, I stopped and stared at where that Zoo was..... the only thing left, are those tree's (Bluegums?) They must be close to 30 metres high these days....
Only just found this topic. Oh YES I remember that "Zoo" well. I must have been around 8yrs old then,so thats 43yrs ago err 1964.Jeez, they could very well had Dinosaurs there as well.I remember breaking my foot on the "witches hat" in the park right next to those cages.We would do something called a "death ride" slamming the "hat" part against the centre pole,jammed my foot in between. Then rode home crying all the way,I had the honour of sitting with the teachers during assembly while my foot was in plaster.Felt very important. (I'm sure my mom still has photo's of the Zoo somewhere.
Riding the witches hat should be a death defying topic all to itself!
This mini zoo was definitely there, monkeys with blue **** and all,
30 metre trees, you say, gosh,
I remember the new nursery school being build, I went to nursery in the old site,
witches hats, yes, gosh the playgrounds were dangerous back then. I have stolen the photo of the "witches hat with gemsbok" off the site from somewhere and have it as my desktop picture. It epitomizes my youth for me - wild and care free.
and what about the horse thing that 4 or 5 people could sit on and rock on outside the guide hall it was there for yonks until it rusted and wore out and fell over crushing and breaking someones foot (can't remember who) in the process, to be removed and never replaced, anyone.???
Yes that horse had a chip out of its ear. Why on earth I should remember that.
cos you always sat on the first seat........... and ended up with your face inbetween his ears....?
just a guess.....
There is only one of those rocking horses left and that is situated in the 5th ave Park....... come to think of it.... it was'nt there in the 70's
no, the only rocking horse was this one i mentioned, maybe he got resurrected by some appie - and moved to a new location ...... happy days, good to hear= he's still about.......
Here is a picture I can't remember where I copied and pasted it from, but I love it, and thank whoever is responsible for sharing it with me.
sorry didn't mean to post it twice, can't delete one, Help.
Wow Barb, the witches hat brings back many memories, lots of fun and laughter but also lots of pain luvs it
I think all your talk about Beauvallon has got the monkeys all up in arms! My mom was walking home down 6th avenue this morning when a small monkey ran across the road in front of her and into the trees at 14-6th avenue!
Last week I also heard about a monkey visiting someone's garden in the vicinity of the Tank Park. I wonder if it is the same monkey?
Anyone else heard about a monkey in town? No wise cracks here!
:emot19_2:
Mr Esterhuisen a teacher at the school in the 70's lived behind us in 3rd ave
he had a monkey chained onto a tall pole in his back garden
we used to visit it when we knew he was not home
the monkey was quite wild and it was a travesty to keep it as he did, but it was entertaining to us.......
it would sit on his shoulder I think - but not ever friendly to me (the monkey not the teacher)
your sighted monkey definitely not the same or even related but I thought I'd share this memory....
That's what this sight is about - sharing memories of O'mund! It's amazing how something one person remembers can start a chain reaction of memories for other people!
Back to the monkey you remember - shame on the teacher, you would've thought he would've known better than to chain a monkey up in his back garden!
O.M.G!! I'd forgotton all about the little zoo!! That really is a blast from the past! It helped to shut the sprogs up if they were throwing a 'strop'!
This is most probably irrevalant,but does any one remember people going to Springbok to buy Rama margarine?
When we first went to O/m in 1970, they only use to sell 'white marg!!' siiiiiiiiiis man!! bling1
Uugh! axle grease ..
@ Pam, somewhere in the basement of this forum, I mentioned about my mom and Rhona's mom,Bernadette rushing of to the old xray to but RAMA marg that had just arrived....it was across the road from your old house.....
I can remember the MINI ZOO very well. I was bitten by one of those monkeys. In the beginning those cages only had single fences. A little girl got bitten by one of the "dassies", so they put up a second (security) fence around the cages. I just had to show my brother (Jacques) that I could climb over these fences. On my way down between the two fences I slipped and grabbed the fence enclosing the monkeys. One grabbed my right index finger and bit it. I told my brother not to tell my mother. When we got home that was the first thing he told my mother. My dad made sure that I will remember this for the rest of my life!
Hi Barb. I used to visit that house near 3 rd avenue as well. It was tied by a harness to a chain as you say and I can remember what a small world this little monkey had as a life. I had forgotton about the mini zoo as its been called and the finches, canaries and cape turtle doves in the cages. Thanks for the reminders!